Chapter 25: Transition to Modern America
This Chapter consists of information that describes America during the 1920’s. There are
both sides of the spectrum, one side that shows the amazing things happening during the 20’s
and then on the other side the horrible things that are happening leading up to the Great
Depression. The feminist movement goes to extremes during this time period, and many women
become ‘flappers’ to embrace their sexuality. African Americans also have the movement of art,
music, and literature, known as the Harlem Renaissance. Also during this time the Volstead Act
is being put into action after the 18th Amendment was passed in 1918. Prohibition caused crime
to increase due to the illegal production of alcohol. During these times President Calvin Coolidge
was a man that hated taxes and likes businesses, “The Business of America is Business!”
Although he did not like taxes, the wealthiest 1% only paid 25% of the taxes. Before the Great
Depression everyone was doing better off and could afford to live ever than before, people were
buying on credit and advertising was catching everyone’s attention.
Vocabulary
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
“Silent Cal”
Palmer Raids
Volstead Act
“Lost Generation”
Harlem Renaissance
Conspicuous Consumption
National Origins Quota Act
Teapot Dome Scandal
Multiple Choice
1) During the 1920’s the consumer-oriented economy emphasized what?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Advertising
Buying on credit
Chain stores
Spending on long lasting items
All of the above are correct
2) Calvin Coolidge ____.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
was friendly to American business interests
was corrupt, similar to Harding
ran for president again and hardly won
was a workaholic president
presided over the American involvement in WWI
3) During the 1920’s, the Democratic Party ____.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
won only one presidential election
gained new voters in rural areas
gained a vast number of new voters of ethnic groups in the cities
agreed on all political topics
none of the above
4) Why did prohibition (18th Amendment) fail?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Rural America did not support it
It cost too much to enforce the laws
Mobs controlled illegal liquor production
American population was decreasing due to the lack of alcohol
Most Americans believed it interfered with their personal freedoms
5) Towards the end of the 1920’s, what was the largest industry in America?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Railroads
Steel
Automobiles
Radios
Oil
6) The Harlem Renaissance refers to what?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
A festival where people dress up and dance
The most famous jazz ensemble during the 1920’s
The “Lost Generation” of writers who moved to Europe
The African American movement in art, literature, and music
All of the ethnic mobs coming together
DBQ
1) After reading the following documents do you believe the 1920’s can be either
described as the Roaring Twenties or the Terrible Twenties?
Document A
Song of the Times (1925)
Flappers are we
Flappers are we
Flappers and fly and free.
Never too slow
All on the go
Petting parties with the smarties.
Dizzy with dangerous glee
Puritans knock us
Because the way we're clad.
Preachers all mock us
Because we're not bad.
Most flippant young flappers are we!
(From Tea for Two in the musical, No, No, Nanette, written by Vincent Youmas)
Document B
Document C
Even where there were no such outrages, there was at least the threat of them.. The whiterobed army paraded, the burning cross glowed across the valley people whispered to one
another in the darkness and wondered "who they were after this time," and fear and suspicion
ran from house to house. Furthermore, criminals and gangs of hoodlums quickly learned to take
advantage of the Klan's existence; if they wanted to burn someone's barn or raid the slums
beyond the railroad tracks, they could do it with impunity now: would not the Klan be held
responsible? Anyone could chalk the letters K.K.K. on a fence and be sure that the sheriff would
move warily. Thus, as in the case of the Red hysteria, a movement conceived in fear
perpetuated fear and brought with it all manner of cruelties and crimes.
(Excerpted from Frederick Lewis Allen, Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920's (New
York: Harper and Row, 1931): pp. 49-50.)
Document D
(From Mabel Newcomer, A Century of Higher Education for American Women (New York: Harper and
Row, 1959, p. 46.)
Graphic Organizer
Answers
Vocabulary
1. Calvin Coolidge was the 30th President of the US. He was friendly to American business
interest and was against taxes.
2. Within 5 months there were more than 4,000 immigrant arrests.
3. Passed after the 18th Amendment to nationally prohibit alcohol.
4. A term made popular by Ernest Hemingway to describe the generation that came to age
after WWI and before the Great Depression.
5. An African American movement in literature, music, and art. Centered in Harlem, New York.
6. Buying items for social needs and not necessity needs.
7. The United States only allowed 3% of immigrants to come into the country.
8. Focused on Albert Fall, he accepted bribes in exchange of leasing government-owned oil
lands to private investors.
Multiple Choice
1. E. All of the above are correct.
2. A. was friendly to American business interests.
3. C. gained a vast number of new voters of ethnic groups in the cities.
4. E. Most Americans believed it interfered with their personal freedoms.
5. C. Automobiles.
6. D. The African American movement in art, literature, and music.
DBQ
1. There would be two appropriate answers to this DBQ, as long as there is evidence stating for
each that it could be either the Roaring Twenties or Terrible Twenties. Documents A and D can
be used to argue that the 1920’s can be described as Roaring due to the fact that the ‘flapper’
image was widely popular which also shows that the new city life was improving. Document D
shows that women were getting better educations during the 1920’s all the way up to the
1930’s. Documents B and C can be used to argue that the 1920’s can be described as Terrible.
Document B is showing that the prohibition laws are not working because boot leggers are
getting around the enforcement. Document C is an expert that recounts the events of the KKK,
how the Klan has been recreated and is much worse than before, hating everyone that is not a
white Supremacist.